It's easy to get sick when it's hot and then raining

Hanoi: The heavy rain after a series of hot days is a toxic type of weather that can make people sick, especially children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems.

Last week, the North experienced widespread heat, with many places experiencing severe heat (over 37 degrees Celsius). However, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, from May 23, this area will be affected by a cold air mass leading to showers, thunderstorms, and hail in many places.

Doctor Dinh The Tien, Department of Internal Medicine, Duc Giang General Hospital, said that this is a type of weather that is harmful to everyone, making it easy to get sick, especially flu, colds and respiratory diseases because the body cannot adapt in time. Prolonged heat makes the body exhausted, tired, and has to radiate heat continuously. "When it is cold or raining, the blood vessels do not have time to constrict, which can easily lead to heat loss, colds, and rapid decline in physical strength," the doctor said.

On hot days, the rain can cool the weather, but the high humidity in the air combined with the heat from water evaporating from the ground is also harmful to health. The higher the humidity, the stronger the water vapor, not to mention the many microorganisms and bacteria in the soil that decompose, creating a foul, unpleasant smell. People who are sensitive to respiratory diseases are also susceptible to colds due to poor adaptation.

Sharing the same opinion, Dr. Bui Duc Ngot, Department of General Surgery, Post Office Hospital, said that when the body is overheated, encountering rain leads to malfunction of the thermoregulation system and failure to adapt in time. In mild cases, the body becomes tired, aches and pains, or in more severe cases, blood pressure, blood sugar increase, and respiratory diseases occur. In addition, when the weather changes suddenly, the body's protective barrier is weakened, making it more susceptible to bacteria and microorganisms.

In addition, when it rains, wastes such as household waste, animal waste, etc. are washed away, contaminating the water, creating conditions for microorganisms and parasites to cause skin diseases such as fungus, inflammation, and scabies. Initial symptoms are simple, such as itching, blisters or pustules, and red skin. When the wound deepens, the skin condition becomes worse, swollen, painful, and seriously affects daily life.

According to Dr. Ngọt, there are three groups that need to pay attention to their health when the weather changes, including children from two to four years old, because their thermoregulation and immune systems are still weak. The elderly, especially those with underlying diseases, cardiovascular and respiratory problems, are also susceptible to stroke.

The third group is people with immune-related conditions, such as autoimmune diseases (asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, allergies of various degrees) or people with immunodeficiency (recovering from illness, taking immunosuppressants, HIV-AIDS).

People wade through water with their dead motorbikes half-full after heavy rain in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Dinh Van — People wade through water with their dead motorbikes half-full after heavy rain in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: *Dinh Van*

Doctors recommend that after being in the rain, the body is not only sticky and soaked in water, but also at risk of being infected with dirt, bacteria and pathogens. Therefore, when returning home, people need to clean and dry their bodies, warm up their bodies to avoid catching a cold. For example, drink ginger honey water, rest, change into clean clothes, do not eat cold food, do not shower immediately after returning home.

Maintain hygiene, bathe regularly, change into clean clothes, especially underwear. Clean the surrounding environment to prevent infectious diseases. Dry clothes to avoid mold.

If you have signs of cold, sneezing, headache, fatigue, bloating, diarrhea, mild fever, weak limbs, sweating, you need to contact your doctor for treatment to avoid more serious complications.

In addition, people should get enough sleep and keep their spirits up. Increase nutritious foods, drink plenty of water, supplement vitamins and minerals, and green vegetables for energy. Regular exercise increases resistance, helping to cope with erratic weather.

Minh An

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